As I reluctantly start to wake up all I feel is unbearable throbbing in my skull and the revolting sensation of my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. Even though my eyes are closed I shut them tighter as I detect the harsh morning sun through my eyelids. For the love of Ezillus, someone close the fucking curtains. Someone must be hearing my silent plea because I hear something be put down beside me and the sound of curtains being closed, instantly bathing me in darkness and giving me a slight reprieve from my pain. I slowly open my eyes but have to close them again because I’m sure I’m hallucinating. I open them once more only to find my animai still standing over me with… fuck, I must have really been drunk because I swear the look on his face is caring. Lemuel’s striking face is usually a mask of indifference. I saw some cracks in it last night, but this is something else. “I had a feeling you two were going to need some assistance this morning,” he says in a soft voice that fe
I crash through the water and take off moving a safe distance from the cliffs, hoping I’m not too far from Lemuel. I see and feel the pull of the currents from under the surface as the tsunami makes its way towards the kingdom. I feel my eyes burn as I pull on the energy inside me and throw my hands out halting the tsunami in its tracks, or at least I thought I had. I can feel the force of the giant wave pushing against me, forcing me to readjust and throw more power into my actions, but still, I feel the fucking thing resisting me. A tsunami may be a natural and powerful force but even it must bend to sirna magic. This thing is fighting me like a sentient being. No tsunami can do that, which means someone is controlling this thing. I keep my hold on the wave as I close my eyes and try to feel the energy behind this beast. I grind my molars in disgust and feel my eyes burn brighter as I sense the presence of more sirna magic. Another sirna is responsible for this, and when I find them
In utter disbelief, I watch as Sebastian jumps over the balcony. I run to the edge and look over the side and witness him fall faster and faster towards the ocean below. As he gets closer to the water I see his briefs shred off his body and a large and magnificent tail replace his legs. The sunlight catches his scales and even from up here they look smooth as glass with a majestic pattern that I swear looks like the ocean waves caressing his body. He breaks through the water with perfect form like an Olympic diver and I look back up at the monster of a tsunami travelling directly for Atlesper. I take a breath and sigh with relief that I didn’t just watch this insane man plummet to his death, but I can’t help but think that must have been painful diving into the water from such a great height. That has to be a 200 foot drop. What the fuck is he thinking?! He’s lucky to even be alive. Though it does make me think. I glance down at the brand around my wrist and note how I feel no tightn
“LEMUEL!” I hear a panic-filled voice that sets my nerves on fire. I look up to see Sebastian in nothing but shorts, running down the hall flanked by two armoured guards. His steps falter when he sees the butchery laid out before him. Colour drains from his face and tears fill his cerulean eyes and my heart clenches in pain for him. His eyes frantically look up searching for something and fill with relief when they see me. He runs at me and throws his dripping-wet body at me, wrapping me tightly in his arms. I momentarily freeze like a deer in headlights, but it wears off as I feel my body come to life from the electricity brought by his touch. He’s holding me. I can’t remember the last time someone held me. Warmth fills my chest and once again threatens to thaw the ice shards that have collected around my heart. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispers with so much relief I feel it in my soul. He was worried about me? Taken aback and moved by his worry for me, I place my arms around
I make my way into my room, my hand still firmly wrapped around Lemuel’s. Am I a horrible person for wishing that the person behind these attacks was after my father? It’s not that I wish him hurt or harmed, even though he is a bigot, it’s that I know he can handle himself. You don’t get to be King by resting on your laurels. But I just found Lemuel. I’ve waited nearly a century to find him and now that I have, someone wants to take him from me. He may be immortal but he’s not unkillable and he has no way to defend or protect himself, and now he doesn’t even have my guards… my guards… Tears fill my eyes as the image of Andromeda’s severed head flashes before my eyes. Her pale lifeless skin and the blood… there was so much blood. I’ve never seen so much blood before. I drop Lemuel’s hand and step away, balling my hands into fists as I think over who is responsible for this. I’m convinced it’s Circe, but I need proof, and once I have it I will rip that bitch limb from limb. For deceivin
The entire kingdom has gathered along the streets of Atlesper to give their respect and condolences to our fallen heroes. I watch with sadness as the women of Cole and Andromeda’s family lay their bodies down on long navy blue pillows atop large gold and blue slabs adorned with the kingdom’s crest. I force myself not to look away as I see how much more careful they are with Andromeda’s body. A silk scarf of ocean blue is wrapped around her neck to hide the stitches that keep her head in place and just the thought has my stomach rolling. Their family covers them with a piece of navy chiffon and the men step forward. Acting as porters, the men lift the carrying poles that support each litter, onto their shoulders and as they do my parents step forward in long white robes. They step to the front of the procession hand in hand and begin the walk from the palace down to the shore. They are followed by Cole and his family and then Andromeda and hers, all flanked by the other Elite Guards.
I cannot believe I’ve agreed to this. I must be out of my mind, but then again if I can endure one ball then he’ll make his wish and I’ll be free from all of this once and for all. I feel a pang of sadness somewhere deep inside me, but I do my best to lock it up and throw away the key. I’ve let myself get closer to Sebastian more than I ever intended and that was foolhardy of me. It’ll only make things harder for him when I leave. I finish buttoning the white waistcoat of my three-piece tuxedo, grab my jacket and slip it on, smoothing out my lapels and collar. Once again Sebastian’s choices regarding my attire have been right on the money. The three piece-tuxedo he picked includes a white dress shirt and black jacket with white lapels and white satin lining with a black carnation sewn into the lapel along with mini gold chains hanging decoratively from the left breast pocket. A gold tie-clip adorns my black satin tie with another gold chain hanging decoratively from it. The white wai
With a smile of victory now gracing his handsome face, he takes my hand once again, sending jolts of electricity through my flesh as he leads me through the ballroom directly to his parents. Suddenly that sensation of not being able to breathe is making a valiant return. “Mother, Father, there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” he says, stopping in front of his parents with emboldened determination. His parents cease their conversation and turn to give their son their attention. My eyes lock with his father’s and the tension building from our stares could suffocate the room. He’s made his opinion of me very clear, and I told him in the most delicate way I could, to go screw himself. Based on his face, I’m glad to see he remembers. He can’t kill me, and he can’t have me removed from the kingdom, I’ll just end up right back next to Sebastian. “Is this Lemuel?” His mother asks, she looks at me with curiosity and interest. I’ve heard she’s as bigoted as the King, but perhaps she’s more o
I walk over and lay down on the blanket and prop myself against the pillows and pat the spot next to me. He takes a step forward and I raise my hand to halt him, “Wait. You’re overdressed,” I say slyly. He smiles down at me and slowly pulls his shirt off over his head and my eyes quickly drink up his perfectly muscled physique. He slips off his loafers, unbuttons his pants and pushes them down along with his briefs until he’s completely naked in front of me. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I eye him with desire as I feel my cock get rock hard once again. “May I join you now?” He asks in a low voice. I nod, unable to find the words I want. He lowers himself to his knees and crawls along the blanket until he’s hovering over me. He slowly sinks down on top of him, the feel of his skin on mine sending currents of electricity through my entire body. His arms wrap around my head caging me between his arms as his lips descend on my neck. His soft full lips nip and caress my flesh as
I stare at him incredulously, “That’s a joke right?” He quirks an eyebrow at me, “Why would it be a joke?” “You’ve never been on a date?! And you’re just telling me now?!” I screech like a damn howler monkey. “It didn’t seem relevant,” he shrugs. “Didn’t seem relevant?!” I screech again, placing my glass down. “Would you cut that out, you’re going to disturb the sea life,” he chastises, taking another sip of his drink. “Lemuel, had you told me I would have done something extravagant,” I pout. He chuckles, “THIS doesn’t qualify as extravagant in your mind? You’ve set up a beautiful romantic date on a fucking yacht. Most first dates from what I hear these days are just dinner and a movie. Many would consider this extravagant, and I already love this date so stop having a meltdown and drink your drink,” he says, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close as he kisses my neck making me take a laboured breath. I pick up my drink and take another sip, “I still can’t believe you
I wasn’t nervous about Circe’s execution. I wasn’t even nervous about being given charge over a monolithic magical crystal now living in the oceanic version of my basement. But my first date with my soulmate? That has me nervous as fuck. Seems weird that I’m basically the supernatural equivalent of married and yet we’ve never been on a date. I mean, that night at the club does not count and that did not end well. I want… no, I NEED tonight to be perfect. That’s why I called in reinforcements. I’ve just finished setting the table on my family's yacht. Lemuel said he always felt at peace when he was on a boat on the water, so I want to give him an updated version of that, and no one has used the yacht in ages, so I figured it was time to dust off the cobwebs. The yacht is a Black Pearl and is one of the most eco-friendly yachts on the market. It’s 106.7 metres long and can reach speeds of up to 30 knots under sail and with a top cruising speed of 17.5 knots by motor. It has the ability
As I reconstitute I walk over to my desk, moving things around until I find the large stone tablet with scribble on it, or glyphs as everyone is claiming. I grab the block of stone and immediately teleport back to the throne room. “Is this is?” I ask, holding up the piece of stone. Aiyla’s eyes widen in disbelief and Isolde looks like she’s about to pass out. I walk over and place the piece of stone in Isolde’s hands and watch as she reverently traces her fingers over the carvings. “You were using part of an ancient prophecy, written by the Goddess Fretez herself… as a paperweight?” She asks in a low and slow voice. Wait, that thing was written by the Goddess Fretez?! Well, how the hell was I supposed to know that? It’s not like it came with a warning label that reads: ‘made by Goddess, do not touch’. I shrug feebly, “I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was just scribble,” I say defensively. Obviously, if I had known it was a sacred magical relic I would have been more respectf
“How much longer do you think?” I ask as I continue to pace across the throne room. “Aiyla said mid-day. It’s now mid-day, so I would assume any minute now,” says Lemuel casually while leaning leisurely against the wall. “What do you think the Orraikam looks like? Maybe an amulet? A mystical orb of some kind?” I ask enthusiastically. After Aiyla told us we would be placed in charge of protecting the magic of a Goddess, I combed the library for hours. I could not find a single reference to the Orraikam in any of our books, not even in our vault which is to protect ancient works from damage. It was a long shot, but I figured it was worth a look, but I guess the Delegation did a damn fine job of keeping this thing hidden, until now. “I’m sure whatever it looks like, is nothing either of us can comprehend,” he says in a very blasé manner. “Aren’t you the least bit excited?” “This isn’t about fun or excitement. We’re being entrusted with a sacred duty; I’m treating this with the level
“You, on the other hand, will not be so lucky.” “Your Majesty, wait!” Shouts a man from the crowd as he rushes forward falling to his knees. Tears fill his eyes, and he looks as though he hasn’t slept in years. “King Sebastian, I beg of you to show mercy on my daughter. She made a mistake. That shouldn’t cost her, her life,” the man pleads. I glance over at Sebastian who has gone from enraged to full-blown furious and I don’t blame him. “Mistake? Did you really just say she made a mistake?” Sebastian says through gritted teeth, walking over to the broken man. “Accidentally using salt instead of sugar when baking, that’s a mistake. Slipping on the gas when you mean to hit the brakes; those are mistakes. Your daughter actively and intentionally harassed me for nearly a century. Lied and deceived the former King and Queen.” Haemon and Callista both look sick with guilt over that comment. “Conspired with a known criminal. Organised a coup. Endangered the kingdom. Brutally murdered two p
I’ve been waiting weeks for this day to finally arrive. From the moment I met Circe, I wanted to slap the mouth right from her face. Back then I never imagined we’d be here – I never imagined anything until I met Sebastian. I certainly never imagined some deranged woman would try to tear us apart, and I never imagined we’d be getting ready for her execution, but I can say with complete honesty that I couldn’t be happier. A life sentence is too good for her, and I hate the thought of her still living in the kingdom, even if it is as a prisoner, so the sooner she’s gone, the sooner I can rest easy. Sebastian walks over and buttons up my shirt leaving the first few buttons undone while I pull on my jacket. He places a gentle kiss on my sternum, and I lean forward pecking his nose. “Even though I know how you’re feeling, I’m still going to ask anyway,” I say, placing my hands on his hips. “I just want this over with so we can leave this mess in the past and move on with our lives,” he
“It is my deepest honour to introduce for the first time, our new King and Queen, Sebastian and Lemuel!” I hear Eisa cheer through the microphone as Lemuel and I make our way into the ballroom. Everyone is gathered and cheering, still carrying the same excitement from earlier. I smile at Lemuel, tightening my hold on his arm and watch as he takes in the wonderfully decorated room. The decor is much the same as the throne room, only on a much larger scale. Glittering purple water pours from the fountains and waiters walk around serving drinks, but all that is tuned out the moment I hear ‘Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?’ begin to play. I grin at Lemuel as I bounce with excitement. Dimitra deserves a big fat raise after this. Lemuel smiles and extends his hand to me, “May I have this dance, my King?” I smile and bat my eyelashes, “I thought you’d never ask.” I place my hand in his, smiling wider when he pulls me close by my waist and begins twirling me around the dancefloor.
Lemuel and I slowly walk up the steps and gracefully drop to our knees before my parents. My father takes in a deep breath and adjusts his jacket. A mesmerizing glittering royal blue that merges into black satin from the waist down, with an indigo belt wrapped around his midsection. Black lapels cross over and allow just a hint of his white ruffled shirt to peek out from the neck and ends of his sleeves, giving definition to the ensemble. Black satin slacks appear to move in the light and cut down exposing royal blue shimmering oxfords at his feet. A stunning floor-length cobalt blue cape hangs from his right shoulder and gathers across the floor like the surface water of a beautiful oasis. It’s only when the music stops, and the room falls silent that I realise how long I’ve been staring at the inspiring image of my parents. A ring of cobalt blue glows around my father’s grey eyes, and with a wave of his hand, the surface water of the nearest fountain begins to bubble, acting as a m